Theories but no answers as residential break-ins continue in the South Okanagan

By Steve Arstad

Residential break ins continue to be a problem in the City of Penticton as police report five more in the past week.

(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

January 26, 2016 - 11:30 AM

PENTICTON - Penticton continues to be plagued by residential break and enters and RCMP are still unsure as to why the spike.

The Penticton detachment continues to respond to calls of household break and enters, which RCMP feels is now at an abnormally high rate for the city, Penticton RCMP police spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says.

In some cases, stolen vehicles are being used to carry out the crimes.

Wrigglesworth suggests thieves may also be 'casing' properties to see if people are home.

“If suspicious people come to your door with a weird cover story, I’d suggest reporting it to us,” he says, adding jewelry and electronics are choice items on thieves lists.

In the past week, Penticton RCMP responded to five residential break-ins,

On Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, a resident of a Huth Avenue home reported a break and enter. The principal occupants of the house were away, and the daughter of the owners reported the crime to police. It is unknown exactly what was taken at this time. The following day two residences in the 200 block of Yorkton Avenue were broken into. A camera and laptop was stolen from one house, while the other residence was vacant.

A Martin Street resident reported the second break-in to his home this month after returning from a trip out of town on Sunday, Jan. 24. Two televisions and a coffee maker were taken.

Between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., a break-in occurred on Elm Street, in the same vicinity as the Yorkton Avenue break and enters. A gate was pried open and the back door kicked in to gain entrance. It is unclear what, if anything, was taken.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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